BHF Bank
| Corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) | |
| Industry | Banking Financial services |
| Founded | 1854 |
| Headquarters | Frankfurt am Main |
|
Key people
|
Björn H. Robens, CEO |
| Total assets | €7,5 Billion (2013) |
|
Number of employees
|
ca. 1,100 (2013) |
| Website | www.bhf-bank.com |
BHF-Bank is a German private bank with a high reputation in Germany. It was amongst the leading German investment banks in the 1970s and 1980s, and also held a top position in the foreign exchange market. It is currently owned by Deutsche Bank. The bank also has an international presence, with branches in Luxembourg, Switzerland, the UAE, Egypt and Vietnam.
History[edit]
BHF-Bank was formed on 1 January 1970 as the Berliner Handels- und Frankfurter Bank from the merger of the Frankfurter Bank (founded in 1854) and the Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft (founded in 1856). It changed its name to BHF-Bank in 1975. Through the 1970s and 1980s it was amongst the three or five leading investment bank in West Germany and also took a top position in the foreign exchange market. The bank also had extensive industrial holdings. Its former senior partner, Hanns Schroeder-Hohenwarth, became the President of the German Banks Association from 1983 to 1987.
In 1995 the bank went public, changing from a partnership to a corporation.
From 1999 to 2004 it was bought by the Dutch ING Group and renamed from 2002 ING BHF-Bank. In the same year it was delisted following the Squeeze out of remain share holders.
In 2004 ING BHF-Bank was split in two, with the larger part comprising the branches and investments being integrated into a newly found BHF-Bank Aktiengesellschaft which was wholly owned by the private bank Sal. Oppenheim.
Following the takeover of Sal. Oppenheim by Deutsche Bank, BHF-BANK was sold to Kleinwort Benson Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the financial services provider RHJ International RHJ International. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
Corporate Citizenship:
BHF-BANK Foundation
Senckenberg Museum - BHF-BANK supports the museum in acquiring new exhibits. Frankfurt Red Cross - BHF-BANK supports the Frankfurt Red Cross in keeping rescue equipment readily available for emergencies. Dietmar Schmid has taken on the honorary position of Treasurer of the local Red Cross organisation in Frankfurt am Main.
In 1970, when the BHF-Bank tower-building was built by the German architect Sep Ruf, it was the highest tower-building in Frankfurt.
